Party leaders agree on National Council

Leaders of political parties who met yesterday decided to appoint a national council. The national council will comprise 37 members which will represent political parties in Parliament.

English medium from Grade 1 next year

Along with the education reforms, the Education Ministry is planning to introduce the English medium in all schools from Grade 1 next year, Education Minister Susil Premajayantha said.

Zahran’s wife and five others further remanded till Sept.21

Colombo Fort Magistrate yesterday ordered to further remand six suspects including the wife of the National Thowheed Jamaath leader Zahran Hashim till September 21 in connection with the Easter Sun

Six-month validity period for birth, marriage, death certificates done away with: Registrar General’s Dept.

The Registrar General’s Department advised the Education Ministry, Foreign Ministry, Immigration and Emigration Department and the Department of Registration of Persons to refrain from consi

Report on PCoI on political victimization no longer valid: Govt.

The Attorney General’s Department has informed that the final report of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) on political victimization headed by former Justice Upali Abeyratne was no longer valid as it and the Special Presidential Commission are defunct now, leader of the House Susil Premajayantha said yesterday. H

Alleged fraudulent coal deal: Omalpe Sobhitha Thera files FR petition

Ven. Dr. Omalpe Sobhitha Thera has filed a Fundamental Rights petition in Supreme Court seeking an order staying the purported award made to a company incorporated in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the procurement of 4.5 million MTs of coal to the Lakvijaya Power Plant. The petitioner is challenging the decision of the Special Standing Cabinet Appointed Procurement Committee to award the coal tender to the Black Sand Commodities Company and

Sri Lanka explores US $ 6 billion fuel credit line from Saudi Arabia

Minister Naseer Ahamed as the President’s envoy to Saudi Arabia also proposed Saudi investments in Sri Lanka

Social Security Contribution Levy will increase VAT to 20%: AKD

The proposed Social Security Contribution Levy would further burden the people as it would result in further increase of the Value Added Tax (VAT) to 20 percent, National People’s Power (NPP) leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said yesterday.

Prepared to face the challenge of gunmen: DIG Ajith Rohana

Senior DIG, Southern Province Ajith Rohana said 13 murders had been reported from the Southern Province from June 1 to date and that he was prepared to face the challenge of gunmen.

Govt. approves 5 year no-pay leave for state workers

The government approved five years of no-pay leave for state workers to go abroad or work elsewhere with no reduction in their seniority or pension rights. The decision was announced following a cabinet meeting held on June 13. A seven-me

Heavy rains, earth slips and flood threats continue

Sri Lanka beat India by six wickets and qualify for the finals.

President congratulates new British PM

President Ranil Wickremesinghe congratulated Britain’s new Prime Minister Liz Truss, who was elected as the leader of the Conservative Party and the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

SC determines Certain clauses of 22A needs approval by special majority and people in referendum

The Supreme Court has determined that certain clauses of the 22nd Amendment have to be approved by special majority and by the people in a referendum, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywa

Rajapaksas & friends thought they owned this country: CBK slams

Says if anyone raised objections against the regime’s action, they were killed

2022 first school term ends today, 2nd school term starts Tuesday

The due date of the first school term for the year 2022 will end today, the Education Ministry announced yesterday. Accord

Constitutionality of Petroleum Products Bill challenged in Supreme Court

The Petitioners further state that if this Bill is enacted into law, the Minister would have unfettered discretion to issue licences to foreign suppliers

PM, several ministers attend UNPs 76th anniversary celebrations

Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, a group of Ministers and allies of Samagi Jana Balawegaya were present at the UNP 76th anniversary celebrations at the Sugathadasa Stadium yesterday.

Proposed National Council to be finalised next week: Prez

New committees in addition to COPE and COPA to be introduced

Navy’s Offshore Patrol Vessel sails for Colombo from US

The Offshore Patrol Vessel P 627, which was formally handed over to the Sri Lanka Navy by the U.S. Coast Guard in October 2021, departed for Sri Lanka from the Port of Seattle, United States on 03rd September 2022. The home bound journey began, after the modernization work of the ship to suit the operational needs of the Sri Lanka Navy. The Sri Lanka Navy officially took delivery of the EX-United States Coast Guard Cutter, USCGC Douglas Munro,

Boy trapped in storm drain dies

A 13 year old boy trapped in a storm drain for over an hour during a heavy downpour has died yesterday, Ku

Only a bunch of mad-hatters in SLFP now: CBK

Claiming that the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) is sans any policy now, Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga said there are only a bunch of mad hatters in the party now.

Justice Arjuna Obeysekera declines hearing Wilpattu case

Supreme Court Judge Arjuna Obeysekera yesterday recused himself from hearing an appeal petition filed by former Minister Rishad Bathiudeen relating to the Wilpattu judgement. Justice Obeysekera who was a member of yesterday’s bench, declined to hear the appeal owing to a conflict of inter

One-hour power cut until Friday: PUCSL

The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) yesterday approved power cuts of 1 hour from today(6) until Friday (9).

Two undergraduates held in detention under PTA seek relief from SC

A lawyer appearing on behalf of two undergraduates who became active participants in the “GotaGoGama” protests yesterday filed two Fundamental Rights petition in Supreme Court challenging the legality of the detention order issue

Main procession in Saman Devalaya begins today

The Maha Perahera of the Ratnapura Saman Devalaya Esala festival will commence today. Basnayake Nilame Migara Jayasundara said the procession that parades the streets would be held for five days till September 10 followed by the water cutting ceremony in the early hours of September 11 in Rathambalaella river in Ma

Main procession in Saman Devala begins today

The Maha Perahera in Ratnapura Saman Devala Esala festival would commence today. Bas

Imprisoned for cheating and sexual harassment

The accused was ordered to pay Rs. 100, 000 as compensation to the aggrieved party.

Prez’s office says No request for asylum by Hindu guru

The President’s Office yesterday said that there had been no request by the controversial Hindu guru Nityananda, to seek asylum in Sri Lanka as reported by the Indian media. Officials from the President’s Office told Daily Mirror that despite reports stating that the Hindu priest had sent a letter to President Ranil Wickremesinghe, requesting a medical visa to enter the country and then seek asylum here, there had been no such request.

Committee appointed to facilitate repatriation of SL refugees from India

A committee has been appointed by President’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake to facilitate and efficiently carry out the process of repatriation of Sri Lankans who have gone to India as refugees due to the war, a statement from the President’s Media Division said.

UNP celebrates 76th anniversary

First anniversary celebration to be held under an Executive President from the party after 28 years